The FIA has reportedly banned F1 teams from running protective plates over skid blocks after Red Bull alerted the governing body of the practice. The technical directive comes following the Milton Keynes team pointing out that a considered a loophole in the rules was in fact illegal. First reported by AMuS , it is believed around half the grid has employed the approach to better protect the skid blocks on the underside of their cars, including Ferrari, Mercedes and Haas. It is understood that teams were using the fastening screw at the rear of the skid block to provide a cushion, protecting the plank in the process. Like Red Bull, the other front-running team, McLaren, has not been opted for such an approach. Preserving skid blocks, which are planks that sit under the floor of an F1 car, has become increasingly important in contemporary F1 due to the re-introduction of grounds effects. Downforce is now more closely linked to how low a team can run its car to the ground, with the lower the better for finding lap time. However, when run too low, the plank is in danger of being worn away by repeatedly making contact with the track below. This is something that caused Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to be disqualified from the 2023 United States Grand prix, when both their cars were found to have fallen foul of the 10mm minimum plank depth rule during post-race scrutineering. According to AMuS , with a protest from Red Bull anticipated, the FIA acted proactively, informing teams a week before the Las Vegas Grand Prix that the practice would be banned with immediate effect. It is also understood that Ferrari wanted the clarification to come into force from the Qatar Grand Prix onwards, but were overruled.
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